Großmannhof

This majestic L-shaped building, the Großmannhof, stands proudly in the Brigittenau district of Vienna. It was built in 1925 and 1926 by the architects Anton Valentin, Viktor Reiter, and Wilhelm Otto Rumler. The Großmannhof was one of the many Gemeindebauten, municipal housing projects, that were built during the era of “Red Vienna” in the 1920s. These projects, built after World War I, aimed to provide affordable housing for the working class. It boasts a soaring façade with striking triangular motifs, showcasing the expressionist architectural style popular during that time. Standing three stories high, the Großmannhof originally housed 88 apartments, but today it features 81. The building is named after Oskar Großmann, a communist journalist and resistance fighter who was killed by the Nazis in 1944. You’ll notice that while the Großmannhof is impressive, the building also boasts a small, hidden annex connected to the main structure. This annex is barely visible from the street. The entrance is flanked by a striking iron gate that uses triangular elements. You can see a little courtyard located behind the imposing façade. The courtyard has an attractive pergola and a small fountain that adds to the visual allure of this community space. Its design reflects the ambition to create not just dwellings, but also a sense of community and shared public space. If you’re interested in seeing other examples of “Red Vienna” architecture, be sure to ask me about the Karl Marx-Hof in the 19th district or the other Gemeindebauten in the 20th district. The Großmannhof, with its striking architecture and powerful history, holds a place of significance for those seeking to understand Vienna’s social and architectural past.